Emergency Traffic Management

Question 1

The Calgary Fire Department established its first comprehensive Emergency Traffic Management (ETM) procedures in what year

Answer 1

2000

Question 2

Arrow Boards

Answer 2

Electronic arrow boards have been mounted on all CFD Engines and some secondary apparatus. These boards serve as both warning and directional devices for oncoming traffic.
- Arrow boards and directional bars are to be used any time CFD apparatus are blocking roadways. If an apparatus is at an angle to
the driving lanes (fend-off position), the arrow board must be positioned (rotated), if possible, until it is perpendicular to, and in clear view of oncoming motorists.

Question 3

Retro-Reflective Striping

Answer 3

Retro-reflective striping is designed to dramatically increase the visibility of fire apparatus and personnel, especially at night.

Question 4

Safety Support Vehicle/Safety Support Engine (SSV/SSE)

Answer 4

Dispatch protocols have been updated to automatically provide a second engine on calls located on a high-speed roadway (posted speed limit over 70km/hr).

Question 5

Quick Clearance

Answer 5

Clearing the roadway quickly is an important focus and should be a priority whenever possible after dealing with the immediate life hazards on scene. It should be remembered, however, that clearing the scene does not take priority over scene/evidence preservation for CPS.
Removing vehicles, people and debris from roadways quickly and safely reduce the potential for secondary collisions from oncoming motorists. ** Collisions that involve injuries or fatalities should be left in place until the arrival and direction of police.

Question 6

Requesting Tow Trucks

Answer 6

“Tow Truck Policy” changes have been introduced to allow CFD to request tow trucks prior to the arrival of police. Tow trucks may be requested through Fire Dispatch.
When requesting a tow truck, Dispatch will need to know:
* Type of Vehicle
* Make and Model
* Colour and Year
* If the vehicle is a truck, specifics of load and type (any toppers, 4 wheel drive capability, and size)
When a tow truck is being requested, the Incident Commander (IC) should check with the vehicle owner to see if they have a preferred towing company.
Note: Tow trucks may be requested, but are not allowed to hook up to a vehicle prior to police arrival. This does not apply to stalled vehicles which have not been involved in a collision; police presence is not required at these incidents prior to hook-up.

Question 7

Safe Operation at Highway Incidents

Answer 7

• Position apparatus to provide an initial block at a roadway incident to create a protected work area for responders and systems so equipment on the apparatus can be accessed with minimal exposure to personnel.
• Develop a temporary traffic control plan for an intermediate or major roadway incident that will be active for more than 30 minutes, so that a temporary traffic control zone is created for the incident and adequate resources to safely implement the plan are requested.
• Conduct a post incident analysis of roadway incident operations, so that improvements are made to existing agency standard operating procedures that are based on experience gained from these incidents.
• Where an FESO vehicle acts as a block at a night time incident, sources of vision impairment to approaching motorists, such as headlights and spotlights, is turned off. The FESO vehicle’s warning lights that do not create a source of vision impairment shall remain on to warn oncoming traffic of emergency scene operations.

Question 8

Law Enforcement

Answer 8

Police are also responsible for safe and effective traffic management; if the circumstances of the incident warrant traffic to be directed through hand signals, police have the training and authority to do so.
If CFD personnel are required to manually direct traffic prior to CPS arrival, they should do so with extreme caution.

Question 9

City of Calgary Roads manages all public roadways in Calgary except for

Answer 9

Deerfoot trail and stoney trail. Those are managed by the province through contract services.

Question 10

Transportation Agencies

Answer 10

• Roads can provide assistance with traffic control for longer duration incidents including bringing and setting up cones, barrels, arrow boards, etc and can be reached through fire dispatch. Roads can also arrange to pick up debris on City roadways when requested by CPS or CFD.

Question 11

Scene Safety

Answer 11

In 2014, the second leading cause of fatal injury to firefighters in the US was vehicle crashes or firefighters struck by vehicles.
- Crews on scene should be cautious to never turn their back to oncoming traffic when outside the safe zone. If this cannot be helped, another member should stand as ‘lookout’ to provide a warning to all members in the case of a dangerous or inattentive motorist.

Question 12

High-Visibility Clothing

Answer 12

Sufficient numbers of traffic safety jackets have been placed on all CFD emergency response apparatus so that every crew member has one to wear any time they are working at roadway incidents.

Question 13

Emergency Lights, Amber Lights and Headlights

Answer 13

As per NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, Emergency vehicles shall have two modes: (NFPA, 2016)
* 13.8.6.1 One mode shall signal to drivers and pedestrians that the apparatus is responding to an emergency and is calling for the right of way.
* 13.8.6.2 One mode shall signal that the apparatus is stopped and is blocking the right of way.
- For night operations, the headlights should be turned off so they do not blind oncoming motorists. If the headlights are required for lighting the incident site, they must not be directed towards oncoming traffic.

Question 14

Low-Speed Roadways (60km/h or Less Posted Speed)

Answer 14

Incidents that are anticipated to take 30 minutes or less to clear on low speed roadways, arrow boards may be sufficient warning for oncoming motorists. Cones placed behind the apparatus are not required unless determined by the Officer in charge.
For incidents on low-speed roadways anticipated to take longer than 30 minutes to clear will require cones to be placed behind apparatus, provided it can be done safely.

Question 15

High-Speed Roadways (70km/h or Greater Posted Speed)

Answer 15

For incidents that are anticipated to take 30 minutes or less to clear on high-speed roadways, and the Officer in charge determines traffic control behind the apparatus will be required, crews should only deploy cones when traffic has slowed and it is safe to do so.
For incidents on high-speed roadways anticipated to take longer than 30 minutes to clear, the Officer in charge may request additional resources such as City Roads or a designated private contractor on Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail to assist with temporary traffic control set-up. These resources can be accessed through Dispatch as required.

Question 16

Traffic Control Zone (TCZ)

Answer 16

CFD apparatus must be operating from the same side as the incident and not parked on the opposite side unless the roadway is closed in both directions to facilitate safety of workers and other motorists.

Question 17

Buffer Zone

Answer 17

The space between the incident site and the fire apparatus
- 4 metres per 10 km/hr of posted speed
- Cones should be placed from the apparatus to the incident site in order to close off the buffer zone

Question 18

Lateral Buffer

Answer 18

The space between the side/corner of the apparatus and civilian traffic.

Question 19

Taper

Answer 19

A taper is a placement of a Safety Support Engine or an arrangement of delineation devices in a diagonal line that marks the closure of one lane and movement to a second lane
- A taper is a placement of an SSE or an arrangement of delineation devices in a diagonal line that marks the closure of one lane and movement to a second lane. For example, a 15 metre taper would be measured along the direction of the road, not along the diagonal, and the taper must cross one lane of traffic in a 15 metre section of the roadway.

Question 20

Tangent

Answer 20

A tangent section is a row of delineation devices that are straight and parallel with the flow of traffic
- A tangent section is a row of delineation devices that are straight and parallel with the flow of traffic, which provide motorists with sufficient reaction time. This type of section is used on the approach to the emergency vehicle (between the taper marking lane closure and fire apparatus), and between tapers (on multi-lane closures).
- Tangents must be straight and parallel to traffic flow

Question 21

Final positioning

Answer 21

Will be either in a fend-off position or an in-line position. The decision of final staging is the responsibility of the Fire Officer on scene.
- When using either the fend-off or the in-line position, the wheels should be angled in such a way that, if the apparatus is struck and pushed, it will NOT encroach on the accident scene or endanger the rescuers.

Question 22

Fend Off Position

Answer 22

The fend-off position is achieved by slowly pulling the apparatus as far to the right or left as possible within a lane of travel, then turning sharply back, to position the vehicle at 20 to 30 degrees to the roadway – staying within the lane and remaining at least 0.5 metres from the adjacent lane. A traffic cone should be placed between the corner of the apparatus and the adjacent laneway (lateral buffer).
- If the signboard is not capable of pivoting, then keep the apparatus in line with the traffic lane; this will allow for maximum visibility of the signal arrows.

Question 23

In-line Position

Answer 23

The in-line position is achieved by approaching the scene and maintaining the apparatus in line with the incident. Approach to the scene can be made from either direction.
Crews should leave at least the minimum 0.5 m lateral buffer as indicated in the fend-off position.

Question 24

Establishment of Command, Scene Size-up and Formulating the Incident Action Plan

Answer 24

The first-arriving company officer will assume command of the incident.

Question 25

Minor Traffic Incidents

Answer 25

These are incidents where it is expected that the duration will be 30 minutes or less until all vehicles and debris are removed from the roadway.

Question 26

Intermediate Traffic Incidents

Answer 26

These incidents will have on-scene time durations ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Temporary traffic control protocols will need to be established with advanced warning, approach and transitions areas usually needing to be set-up. Designated contractors, police or City Roads may need to be utilized.

Question 27

Major Traffic Incidents

Answer 27

These are incidents whose duration will exceed 2 hours. Full traffic control zones will need to be established. If the incident will exceed 24 hours, full work zone requirements will need to be implemented. Designated contractors, police or City Roads will need to be utilized.

Question 28

Components of a Traffic Control Zone

Answer 28

1. Advance Warning Area
2. Approach Area
3. Transition Area
4. Activity Area, including:
   ◦ Traffic Space
   ◦ Initial Apparatus Location
   ◦ Buffer Zone
   ◦ Incident Site
   ◦ Additional Apparatus
   ◦ Staging Area
5. Termination Area

Question 29

Staging area

Answer 29

As indicated in “Emergency Traffic Management”, the staging area is the location where “Emergency vehicles performing COMMAND functions or not immediately required for shielding or providing direction, that are unable to park in a safe area off of the roadway, may be directed to STAGE in this area, downstream of the Incident Site. Their location should not create a traffic hazard or obstruction, or impede other emergency services.

Question 30

Determining Placement of Devices

Answer 30

As indicated, a traffic control plan is required “for an intermediate or major roadway incident that will be active for more than 30 minutes” (NFPA, 2013 Section 9,10).

Question 31

General Setup

Answer 31

As a general guideline, on straight, flat roads:
* For every kilometre of posted speed, the tangent length will be approximately 1 metre.
* Tangent length should be adjusted for conditions:
◦ In wet road conditions, multiply the posted speed by 1.5 for tangent length
◦ In snow/ice conditions, multiply the posted speed by 2 for tangent length

Question 32

Estimating distances

Answer 32

• 1 engine length is approximately 9m.
• The light poles on Deerfoot Trail are approximately 100m apart.
• One skip line (dash) = 3m and the space between lines (gap) = 6m

Question 33

Horizontal View Obstructions

Answer 33

When it is determined that a horizontal view obstruction exists (IE trees), steps should be taken to place an apparatus with an arrow board or move the traffic control zone back to a point that allows the oncoming motorist increased perception and reaction time.
Note: Horizontal view obstructions are compounded in reduced visibility. Warning devices should be adjusted accordingly.

Question 34

Vertical View Obstructions

Answer 34

Consideration must also be given to elevation changes in the roadway, known as a Vertical Crest.

Question 35

Leaving the Scene

Answer 35

Each lane should be opened individually, starting with the lane closest to the centre of the roadway.
- The arrow board should be the last traffic control device turned off. Emergency lights should also be turned off after the operation concludes and the apparatus is leaving the scene.